Figure 2

Recovery studies. Colony formation studies of Ag-np treated IMR-90 and U251 cells: The cells after Ag-np exposure were allowed to recover from stress. The time in days taken for the cells to reach confluence is expressed as the recovery period (Y-axis) (A). Concentrations of nanoparticles are indicated on the X- axis. Cells treated with all concentrations except 400 μg/mL recovered. *p < 0.05. (B) Cell cycle analysis of recovered cells showing absence of cell cycle arrest (n = 3). (C) Untreated cancer cells showing recovery and (D) Ag-np treated (25 μg/mL) cells forming colonies (1 week). (E). Cells treated with higher concentration of Ag-np (200 μg/mL) did not form colonies. The morphology of the cells under recovery deteriorated with time. (F) Control cells with proper protoplasmic extensions. (G) Ag-np treated cancer cells showing unhealthy cells with no proper protoplasmic extensions (2 weeks). (H) Morphological deterioration with time suggesting the onset of cell death cascades.